The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-11
THE STATE DERT.

IdE SIAI6 U6bIs
The Sentinel of yesterday founders through
a column and half of muddy misstatement,
in which grain of truth is made to do duty
in savoring the whole mess much as the ira
ditional oyster is overworked in the gallons of
church stew, in an effort to relieve the Demo
cratic party of responsibility for the rapid in
crease of the public debt, and the increase of
the burdens upon the people in the way of
Understanding obligations. It explains the
increase of the debt by enumerating num-
Der of public improvements and extraordinary
payments during the last few years, among
them the following:
ITO redeem the old internal improvement
bonds, $714, $50. IS; the cost Of the Insane Hos
pital for Women at Indianapolis; the amount
paid on the then new hospitals, which was $747,-
255.7 49,, up to Oct. 81, 1886; the John Martin
claim, which the Journal advocated, $50, 900;
the appropriation to the flood suffers, $40, 900;
extensive improvements at the Reform School
for boys; expenditures at the Insane Hospital
by reason of the fire two years ago; the cost of
system of sewerage at the Northern Prison
and the Female Reformatory. The stranger
then asks if all these expenditures were made
without borrowing money, and is informed
that two years ago loan Of $500, 900 was made
for general purposes, the 5000, 600 being ex-
clusively for the State-house. The stranger
begins to open his eyes,"
The Sentinel introduces a supposititious
stranger who is examining into the condition
Of the affairs of the State, who, finding all
these things, begins to open his eyes. If
the Sentinels stranger really wants to know
the truth he will discover the following facts:
During the year 1885 the foreign debt of
the State was increased 81, 100000 Prior
to that time for some years the amount of the
debt had not fuctuated much. This increase
was during one year, and it embraced $780,
900 for the new State-house, 5000, 900 for the
general fund, and $50, 900 of State University
endowment fund, borrowed at per cent.
interest. Now the Legislature is confronted
with proposed additional increase of 81, 000,-
| OO0 making total increase of the debt within
two years of So, 16O,O
To show for this debt there is $500, 900 to
| be charged against the new State house. and
| $747, 255. rs to the new insane hospitals. If
| we add the John Martin claim, and the $780,
| 900 food appropriation-which does not at
all belong to it-there is a total of 81, 1863, 255
49, to offset a total increase in the debt Of
SO, 100, 00O How shall the $500, 900 be ac-
counted for2
| The Sentinel overdoes itself. The $714, $50
! Is Of internal improvement bonds were paid
long before the increase of the debt of which
we are speaking, and the Hospital for Insane
Women was completed and paid for at least
five years before the present increase Of the
debit Since 1880, but $239 have been paid
upon the building used as an insane hospita
for women. 1t must be very bad cause, in
deed, that needs such misstatements as these
to explain, even to "a stranger, why the State
debt is being SO rapidly increased at the pres
emit time.
The fact is that Democratic imbecility ant
demagogism have been and are directly re
sponsible for the burdens being placed upor
the people. The Republicans have no
been able to control legislation for nearly
fifteen years, but in so far as they have beer
able to express themselves, have Away
favored such levy for the necessary expenses
of the State as would create reserve larg
enough TO defray them. But Democratic
demagogues desired to 60 before the peopl
with low rate Of taxation, and so, from tn
time the levy was fixed at five cents, in 1871
until the present time, Democratic manage
ment, or rather Encouragement, has been t.
borrow money, increase the State debt, an,
add large interest accounts to the other bur
dens of the people. The Sentinels stranger
may examine into the history of the State
and he will invariably find that Republica
administrations have paid off debts, and Dem
ocratic administrations have created them an
added to them. No wonder, as the Sentine
says, he "begins to open his eyes"